Reign of a Billionaire : A Dark Mafia Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

“I have to remove the weapons from under the mattress,” he rasped, bringing his lips to mine. Our lips touched, but this kiss was… It was tender and lingering, blindingly passionate. A shiver skated down my spine like a lit match as he traced his lips along mine, his hot breath fanning my mouth.

This kiss was the kind you felt down to your toes. The kind that romance authors wrote about and schoolgirls dreamt about.

“I sleep with weapons too,” I breathed against his lips. “Back home, anyway,” I added, hoping my reminder that he was keeping me here as a pseudo-prisoner didn’t kill the mood.

He smiled against my lips, and I slid off his lap.

It took a minute to clear out the weapons, and another minute for us to settle on the bed. Then I slid under the covers next to him and pressed my head against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. I listened to him breathe and found comfort in it.

“I like how you smell,” I murmured against his chest, his constant petting soothing everything inside me. “My favorite flavor.”

He stilled for a moment, then let out a soft breath. “You, sunshine, are my favorite flavor.” My brows furrowed at the change of the nickname.

“No more ice princess?” I asked, tremor lacing my voice.

Tension radiated from him, every muscle in his body pulled taut. His fingers trembled as they brushed over my hair. “No more.”

I felt his lips against my forehead, the gesture so simple after the earlier encounter, but it had every fiber of me trembling with so many feelings. My fingers traced over his ink, his muscles flexing under them.

I loved how big and strong he was. I even loved that he was a morally gray man. It was exactly what I needed. His gaze touched me everywhere, like he was seeing me for the first time. I couldn’t wrap my head around it, but I loved his attention.

His hands brushed over every inch of my skin, then he shifted and I let out a soft protest. “Don’t go anywhere.”

He let out a sardonic breath. “Nobody, not even God himself, will tear me away from you,” he rasped as he reached for my left wrist and hooked the bracelet around it. “This is yours.”

My brows knitted, studying the delicate jewelry made of teeth dipped in real gold. It didn’t bother me though. In fact, it felt as if it belonged there all along.

“It’s a weird gift, Kingston,” I murmured softly. I brought my wrist close to my chest and cradled it, that familiar throbbing there. “But I like it. A lot.”

I nuzzled into him, my eyes locked on the shining metal. Why did it feel right to have it on?

“I still can’t believe it,” he whispered so low that I barely heard the words.

I lifted my head. “Believe what?”

He shifted us over, his body covering mine. I slid my arms around him, those scars that his ink hid rough under my fingertips. The truth was, I loved them, because they screamed he was a survivor. It made me feel safe with him.

“That you’re here with me.”

Bliss hummed beneath my skin as his weight covered mine. “So you won’t be leaving me anymore after we… kiss?”

There was vulnerability in my voice, and I was sure he was able to see it in my eyes.

He ran a rough palm across my cheek and his lips brushed mine. “I’ll never leave you again.”

The promise seared through me like a romantic song and my heartbeats slowed to nothing.

“Ditto,” I vowed, realizing I fully meant those words.

It might have been wrong, but my possessiveness over this man roared to the surface, and I’d hold on to him until my last breath.

His mouth trailed over my neck before he buried his head in my nape.

That night, we held each other all night.

Chapter 50Liana

The skin on the back of my neck itched as the cries of torture traveled through the castle. I looked at my twin and reached for her hand, interlocking our fingers while my other hand gripped the bracelet. It gave me strength. It kept me safe.

He’d given me a new one for every birthday. My twin didn’t like it. She found the hard enamel and rugged dents gross, but she appreciated the strength I drew from it.